Phase Field Models as Computer Experiments: Growth Kinetics of Anisotropic Precipitates

Abstract

Phase field models are widely used for the study of microstructures and their evolution. They can also be used as computer experiments. As computer experiments, they serve two important roles: (a) theoretical results which are hard to verify/validate experimentally can be verified/validated on the computer using phase field models; and, (b) when severe assumptions are made in a theory, they can be relaxed in the phase field model, and hence, results with wider reach can be obtained. In this paper, we discuss some such computer experiments in general, and the growth kinetics of precipitates in systems with tetragonal and cubic interfacial anisotropies in particular.